Originally Posted by JonA

Since I'm following ScotInSpain's advice and renting before buying, I was wondering:
Do you pay the security deposit to your (or their) lawyer. I'm guessing that if you pay it to the agent, the chances of seeing it again after the end of the rental would be, shall we say slim...

Also, do you need a notary to complete the tenancy agreement, or is it just done between the lawyers?

Originally Posted by David Owsley

Will be moving to Barcelona in the New Year to live and work - any advice would be appreciated. Am 41 with 4 children and a soon to be X (still on A1 terms) who will remain in UK (nuff said). I will not pick up any reply until next week but I would like news of cost per month (€) etc for a small apartment this is all I need at present. Thanx

Originally Posted by ariston

Going to Alicante for 10 days, Feb 5th onward. Have thought about moving but never got round to the nitty gritty. Got a cheap flight and am going to spend time looking around, with the wife. Am a self employed domestic appliance engineer, in my early fifties. Will have small amount of capital for property. Any body any ideas of area and work prospects, would idealy like to stay self employed. Also having watched channel 4 tonight is Alicante area safe if tenerife falls into the sea.

p.s. am in my second year of elemental spanish, if that would help.

Originally Posted by ariston

Also having watched channel 4 tonight is Alicante area safe if tenerife falls into the sea.

p.s. am in my second year of elemental spanish, if that would help.

Originally Posted by Dolphingirl

When you are reading ads in the paper often the same number will come up more than once if they are an agent. I´ve come across some agents who dont charge the person looking, depending how desparate you are, personally after getting ripped off by one when I first arrived, is putting an ad in the paper stating what you want and "no agents" you may find the owner will contact you direct. But some owners do advertise and when you telephone an ad ask if they are an agent or an owner, and if an Agent what the fees are involved, you then have a choice in avoiding them if you are careful. I´ve only had to pay commission once, but got half of it back as the Agent found me another temporary appartment and once found they had nothing to do with the owner I refused to pay for the appartment and that it would have to come out of her commission.

This is something you have to watch, sometimes the "Agent" doesnt have anything whatsoever to do with the owner and once the commission is paid you will be on your own and have to deal with the owner direct..... See also if the Agent is registered, although not mandatory you will see if they are a fly by night also....and always go to their office. I got caught out on this one, told me that I needed to "hold" the appartment until we got to the office......of course when we got to the office she was nothing to do with the owner but was helping the tenant who wanted to move on out.

Another tip is DO NOT SIGN anything without Legal Advice........ I have just brought a house here and...........the Agent told me I had to pay the commission which was 6 grand........this was signed very quickly on the first day.......luckily for me the Agent has screwed up on the contract, and both me and the seller had signed....which was in Spanish and could have been viewed as an Agreement of offer.......

When it came to signing at the Notary........the Agent became quite vocal as I wouldnt pay the commission, in fact they said they would take the seller away if I didnt sign a piece of paper saying I would pay the commission.......My Spanish lawyer advised me not to and the original contract did not STATE who had to pay the commission.......The seller still wanted to sell to me and in private both the Sellers and my Lawyer tore up the orginal contracts.......it was agreed also that we would pay half each....however the Agent refused their half and wanted me to fork out the whole lot.......because he refused that offer........now he gets nothing from me as he can´t prove that I should pay and the orginal contracts no longer exist in the legal eyes........so I dont have to pay anything!!!!

This has been my experience, so I hope someone learns from it.......DO NOT SIGN anything without getting advice..... I was lucky....


Hope it helps .......
Dolphin Girl....